RCGS Honours Carleton Prof

17 April 2012

(OTTAWA, ON) – The Royal Canadian Geographical Society has honoured Carleton’s Christopher Burn for his contribution as vice-president of the society. He was presented with the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal, given to outstanding Canadians who have contributed to Canada through their service and achievements.

“I was surprised and delighted to receive this award,” said Burn, who was closely affiliated with the society for 10 years and served as its vice-president for five. “The society exists to help Canadians to understand their country, and so it is an incredibly important venue for national education.”

Burn has been a part of Carleton’s Department of Geography and Environmental Studies since 1992. His research centres on the impact of climate change on permafrost terrain. He has been studying frozen ground for nearly 30 years and has an immense amount of experience conducting research in Canada’s north. For the past three decades, Burn has been dividing his time between central Yukon and the western Arctic. He holds an NSERC Northern Research Chair.

He is the editor of a new book, entitled Herschel Island Qikiqtaryuk: A Natural and Cultural History of Yukon’s Arctic Island, which features a substantial representation of authors with Northern origins. It will be released at the International Polar Year Conference in Montreal on April 23, 2012.